Internal drive system for weed seed mill of combine harvester

Abstract

An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood has a top wall and side walls. The walls define a hollow interior space for receiving straw or material other than grain from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is at least partially positioned within the hollow interior space. The drive system is configured to drive a seed mill that is connected to the agricultural harvester.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An agricultural harvester comprising:
 a straw hood comprising a top wall and side walls, said top and side walls together defining a first hollow interior space for receiving material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and a second hollow interior space for receiving chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester, wherein the first and second hollow interior spaces are at least partially delimited by an interior wall of the straw hood; 
 a seed mill positioned outside of the first and second hollow interior spaces, the seed mill having (i) an inlet for receiving the chaff from the second hollow interior space, and (ii) a rotor and stator that are together configured for devitalizing weed seeds contained within the chaff; and 
 a drive system at least partially positioned within the first hollow interior space, said drive system being configured to drive the rotor of the seed mill. 
 
     
     
       2. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the drive system that is positioned within the first hollow interior space is concealed and surrounded by a cover to either limit or prevent MOG and chaff from embedding on surfaces of the drive system. 
     
     
       3. The agricultural harvester of  claim 2 , wherein the cover is located closer to one of the side walls than the other side wall along a transverse axis of the harvester. 
     
     
       4. The agricultural harvester of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is mounted to one of the side walls. 
     
     
       5. The agricultural harvester of  claim 2 , wherein the cover is located centrally between the side walls along a transverse axis of the harvester. 
     
     
       6. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , further comprising a chopper connected to the drive system by way of a belt positioned on an exterior of the straw hood. 
     
     
       7. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system comprises two pulleys that are interconnected by a belt, and wherein a first pulley of the two pulleys and the belt are at least partially positioned within the first hollow interior space, and wherein the first pulley is configured to be indirectly connected to an engine or other power source of the harvester and a second pulley of the two pulleys is configured to be either directly or indirectly connected to the rotor of the seed mill. 
     
     
       8. The agricultural harvester of  claim 7 , further comprising a shaft that is at least partially positioned within the first hollow interior space and having one end that is indirectly connected to the engine or other power source and a second end that is connected to the first pulley for rotating the belt. 
     
     
       9. The agricultural harvester of  claim 7 , wherein the second pulley is connected to a first shaft, and the first shaft is connected to the rotor of the seed mill. 
     
     
       10. The agricultural harvester of  claim 9 , wherein the second pulley is connected to a second shaft, and the second shaft is connected to a rotor of a second seed mill. 
     
     
       11. The agricultural harvester of  claim 10 , wherein the second shaft is connected to the second pulley by a movable coupling, and wherein the movable coupling is movable along the second shaft for accessing the belt. 
     
     
       12. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , further comprising an oscillating seal positioned at a chaff inlet of the seed mill. 
     
     
       13. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflector having a first position for preventing the passage of chaff into a spreader of the harvester, and a second position for permitting the passage of chaff to the spreader. 
     
     
       14. The agricultural harvester of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflector that is positioned for preventing the passage of chaff into a chopper of the harvester.